fancy 1 of 3

fancy

2 of 3

noun

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2
3
4
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others to fans of Lewis Carroll, the animal creations of his fertile fancy are as real as any creature to be found at the zoo

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fancy

3 of 3

verb

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a fancy restaurant
an extravagant restaurant
a formal restaurant
a posh restaurant
a classy restaurant
a luxurious restaurant
fancy cars
flashy cars
lavish cars
snazzy cars
swanky cars
fancy clothes
formal clothes
glamorous clothes
dressy clothes
fabulous clothes
extravagant clothes

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fancy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fancy are conceive, envisage, envision, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When could conceive be used to replace fancy?

The words conceive and fancy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of fancy?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

Where would imagine be a reasonable alternative to fancy?

The meanings of imagine and fancy largely overlap; however, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for fancy?

While the synonyms realize and fancy are close in meaning, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When can think be used instead of fancy?

In some situations, the words think and fancy are roughly equivalent. However, think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fancy
Adjective
Guests never pay a resort fee and they’re treated to amenities such as free bikes and access to a fleet of fancy house BMW cars to zip around town in style. Miami Herald, 16 July 2025 Being on a board of directors is more than just a fancy title and compensation package. Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Noun
The other company members all said more or less the same thing: everyone respected Matthew’s great passion for the play, for the character, but why should the company put itself in legal jeopardy for what was, essentially, one man’s fancy? Han Ong, New Yorker, 22 June 2025 Donned in their fancy (and very thick) bejeweled outfits, the group is introduced individually by their English names: guitarist/vocalist Sammy (Woosung), guitarist/vocalist Leo (Dojoon), bass player Jeff (Jaehyeong/Taegyeom), and drummer Dylan (Hajoon). Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
Black newspapers chronicled my grandmother Mae Walker Perry’s elaborate 1924 wedding and fancied her as a black Cinderella. A'lelia Bundles june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025 Murry, who fancied himself a songwriter, encouraged and prodded his sons, who cut a few tunes at Keen Recording Studios at the behest of his music publisher, Hite Morgan. Roy Trakin, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • The Norwegian man is accused of giving detailed information on embassy employees, diplomats, and their families, as well as floor plans of the embassy, safety practices, photos of the facilities, and visitors to Russian and Iranian handlers.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • In a recent presentation at Salesforce's London DX conference, one session showed how AI can look at a Salesforce configuration, draw the process diagrams for an area and then identify agentic use cases based on a detailed framework.
    Ian Gotts, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • The weather service predicts that parts of Maryland remain at risk for excessive rainfall and the potential for flash floods.
    Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to X on Saturday to say his office was closely monitoring the situation and advised use excessive caution in the affected areas.
    Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Gellar's appearance comes first, during a creepy dream sequence.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 20 July 2025
  • However, Gellar made a brief cameo appearance during a dream sequence in the latest installment.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • Yet, how can true agility be achieved when the very tools and platforms meant to empower us simultaneously bind us to the whims of a select few?
    Rajat Bhargava, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • The health and safety of our communities should not hang on the whim of a political ideologue.
    Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Avs coach Jared Bednar took a bit of a liking to him last year before the suspension.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
  • Neeson recalls taking an immediate liking to the idea of starring in a Naked Gun reboot.
    EW.com, EW.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Social media has become much of the atmosphere in the telling and digestion of crimes in the American public’s imagination of them.
    Jim Halterman, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
  • Like a game of cat-and-mouse, society will need to be vigilant and remain alert for those who let their imaginations roam wildly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The two imagined the estate as a members-only club, attracting international jet-setters, diplomats, and cultural tastemakers seeking an alternative to resort tourism.
    Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The graphic novel format gave him the freedom to imagine without limitation—unbound by the logistical constraints of filmmaking.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The 34-year-old, enjoying the moment, agreed, swung a few pro shots and acted along.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
  • Visitors can explore the Old State Capitol, tour distilleries like Castle & Key and Buffalo Trace, and enjoy local bars and restaurants.
    Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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